Viva Sarah Press

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Viva Sarah Press is a pioneering researcher in human-robot interaction, specializing in the innovative use of humor to enhance social robotics. Her work focuses on designing non-humanoid robots that employ humorous gestures and behaviors to mitigate social awkwardness—a novel approach that leverages comedy to foster positive emotional connections between humans and machines. Press’s most-cited paper, "Humorous Robotic Behavior as a New Approach to Mitigating Social Awkwardness" (2023, 23 citations), demonstrates how non-humanoid robots can use humor to transform tense social situations, while her earlier study, "Designing Non-Verbal Humorous Gestures for a Non-Humanoid Robot" (2022, 15 citations), establishes foundational principles for robotic comedy without human mimicry. These contributions are reshaping how robots integrate into daily life, moving beyond functional tasks to address emotional and social needs. Press’s work is notable for its interdisciplinary blend of psychology, robotics, and comedy studies, offering a fresh perspective on human-robot relationships. With a growing citation impact, she is a rising voice in socially assistive robotics, inspiring future research on empathetic, engaging machines that make human interactions less awkward and more joyful.